Fairfield author to unveil 'Star Trek' compendium

Published 8:04 pm, Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Robert Greenberger, of Fairfield, will be on hand to discuss his new book, "The Unauthorized History of Star Trek," at the Fairfield University Bookstore on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Robert Greenberger, of Fairfield, will be on hand to discuss his new book, "The Unauthorized History of Star Trek," at the Fairfield University Bookstore on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Fairfield author to unveil 'Star Trek' compendium

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

When Bob Greenberger came to the first "Star Trek" convention in New York City in 1972, he discovered that the universe of the sci-fi show went far beyond the bridge of the USS Enterprise.

More than 3,000 people -- or trekkies, as they came to be known -- had swarmed the Hotel Pennsylvania, making it the largest gathering of sci-fi enthusiasts in history.

"The event was packed wall to wall with people," Greenberger, of Fairfield, recalled. "It was a big communal experience."

There have been many brilliant minds behind the making of "Star Trek," the wildly popular franchise about the adventures of the starship Enterprise and its crew of intrepid space travelers. But as Greenberger explains in his new book, "Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History" (Voyageur Press), the fans have also played an integral role in shaping the series, helping it go where no television show has gone before.

"This book is truly acknowledging what the fans have done to keep the franchise viable," said Greenberger, who will launch his book at the downtown Fairfield University Bookstore on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Taking an expansive view of the "Star Trek" cosmos, the book combines an authoritative history of the 46-year-old franchise -- including all six television series and 11 feature films -- with anecdotes from fans. Graphic designer Mike Okuda and his wife, Denise, and astronauts Thomas D. Jones and Mario Runco Jr., are among the trekkies who share their memories, along with several of the show's writers and producers.

As Greenberger explains, it is the fans who have kept "Star Trek" going through all of its incarnations. With NBC threatening to cancel the show in 1968, fans embarked on a ambitious letter-writing campaign demanding that the network reverse its decision. After the show was syndicated, fans continued tuning in, creating a cult following and paving the way for future series ("Star Trek: The Next Generation" premiered in 1987).

In addition to celebrating the fans, Greenberg examines the behind-the-scenes saga, from the triumphs and tribulations of Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry, to the successful cinematic reinvention of "Star Trek" in 2011.

Greenberger, a lifelong "Star Trek" fan who has authored more than a dozen "Star Trek" books, said the original series captivated audiences because of its "optimistic, positive, unifying message" -- a message that was welcomed by viewers during the "social upheaval" of the mid- to late-1960s.

"It was the only television show on prime time to say, `We're going to survive this and make it out to the

stars,' " he said. "People rallied around that belief."

Today, "Star Trek" continues at warp speed, with another film planned for 2013 and "Star Trek" conventions held year after year. And while the franchise's popularity has gone in fits and starts over the last half century, Greenberger sees no sign of it disappearing any time soon.

"The first generation grew up believing we would survive and get out there and then children of the next generation were raised on the show," he said. "You literally have two, three, four generations of families growing up around this show. It's a binding community."